Review Blog

May 12 2017

Captain Jimmy Cook discovers X marks the spot by Kate and Jol Temple

Ill. by Jon Foye. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760291945
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Humour. Australian history. School.
Jimmy Cook and his friends gather together implements to dig a hole
behind the toilet block at school. Jimmy has found a dinosaur
footprint and being the explorer that he is, wants to dig for
dinosaur bones. He has already picked out names for this new
species. Only Conrad brings a spade so the trio goes to the
maintenance shed where they borrow several spades, but while there
Jimmy's eagle eyes spy out a map of the school with a large X on it,
and he knows X marks the spot where buried treasure lies. They are
off an adventure once again, and just as well Jimmy keeps a journal
of their exploits. Fans of this inventive 'descendent' of James Cook
will understand the journal that is kept daily, marking the weather
and various objects pertinent to their deeds. But the whole school
gets wise to their digging and soon the playground and school
surrounds is a mess of holes.
The accompanying wonderful illustrations which dot the pages are a
treat. This book, the second in the series will increase the numbers
of followers of Jimmy Cook.
Fran Knight